Walton County, Florida

Walton County, Florida
Seal
Location in the state of Florida
Florida's location in the U.S.
Founded	29 December 1824
Seat	DeFuniak Springs
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,238.03 sq mi (3,206 km²) 1,057.56 sq mi (2,739 km²) 180.47 sq mi (467 km²), 14.58%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	55,043 52/sq mi (20.09/km²)
Website	www.co.walton.fl.us

Walton County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 40,601. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 50,324.^[1] Its county seat is DeFuniak Springs, Florida.^[2] The county is home to the highest natural point in Florida: Britton Hill, at 345 feet (105 m).

History

Walton County was created in 1824. It was named for George Walton, Secretary of the Florida territory from 1821 to 1826.

In 1951, Mossy Head became the interchange point for a base railroad constructed between the Louisville and Nashville Railroad and Eglin Air Force Base, located partially in Walton County. The line operated until the early 1980s, and a short section on the north end of the alignment still exists for rail shipments.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1,238.03 square miles (3,206.5 km²), of which 1,057.56 square miles (2,739.1 km²) (or 85.42%) is land and 180.47 square miles (467.4 km²) (or 14.58%) is water.^[3]

Adjacent counties

• Covington County, Alabama - northwest
• Geneva County, Alabama - northeast
• Holmes County, Florida - east
• Washington County, Florida - east
• Bay County, Florida - southeast
• Okaloosa County, Florida - west

National protected area

• Choctawhatchee National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1840	1,461		—
1850	1,817		24.4%
1860	3,037		67.1%
1870	3,041		0.1%
1880	4,201		38.1%
1890	4,816		14.6%
1900	9,346		94.1%
1910	16,460		76.1%
1920	12,119		−26.4%
1930	14,576		20.3%
1940	14,246		−2.3%
1950	14,725		3.4%
1960	15,576		5.8%
1970	16,087		3.3%
1980	21,300		32.4%
1990	27,760		30.3%
2000	40,601		46.3%
2010	55,043		35.6%
[4][5][6]

As of the census^[7] of 2000, there were 40,601 people, 16,548 households, and 11,120 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 29,083 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.41% White, 6.98% Black or African American, 1.28% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 2.09% from two or more races. 2.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 16,548 households out of which 26.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.80% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county the population was spread out with 21.70% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 105.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,407, and the median income for a family was $37,663. Males had a median income of $26,799 versus $21,208 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,198. About 11.60% of families and 14.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.00% of those under age 18 and 10.90% of those age 65 or over.

Places

Walton County Courthouse, 2008

Incorporated

1. City of DeFuniak Springs
2. City of Freeport
3. Town of Paxton

Unincorporated

1. Argyle
2. Eucheanna (Euchee Valley)
3. Glendale
4. Grayton Beach
5. Miramar Beach
6. Mossy Head
7. Seaside
8. Santa Rosa Beach

See also

• Beaches of South Walton, Florida
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Walton County, Florida

• 

  The hilly terrain of Walton County differs from most of the rest of Florida.

• 

  Walton County contains Florida's highest point.

• 

  South Walton contains many neighborhoods nestled in sugary-white sand dunes.

• 

  The coast of Walton County is fringed by emerald Gulf waters.

References

1. ^ www.census.gov Population estimates
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
3. ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. http://www.census.gov/tiger/tms/gazetteer/county2k.txt. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
4. ^ http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/cencounts/files/fl190090.txt
5. ^ http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_QTPL&prodType=table
6. ^ http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/
7. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

External links

Government links/Constitutional offices

• Walton County Board of County Commissioners
• Walton County Supervisor of Elections
• Walton County Property Appraiser
• Walton County Sheriff's Office
• Walton County Tax Collector

Special districts

• Walton County School District
• Northwest Florida Water Management District
• South Walton Fire District

Judicial branch

• Walton County Clerk of Courts
• Public Defender, 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida serving Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties
• Office of the State Attorney, 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida
• Circuit and County Court for the 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida

Media links

• Northwest Florida Daily News

Coordinates: 30°37′N 86°10′W / 30.61°N 86.17°W / 30.61; -86.17